The end of the day was no better than the beginning as Snotlout and the jocks cornered him and threatened to pound him into the ground. Only the arrival of Alvin had saved him...though the prospect of detention didn't cheer him up at all.

"Where're yer stayin'?" Alvin snapped and Hiccup shrugged.

"Indoors, mostly. I mean-Berk in winter, temperatures just a little fresh...." Alvin's hand grabbed his shoulder and his fingers dug in hard.

"WHO are you staying with, boy?" he growled. Hiccup gulped and winced at the painful grip.

"A friend..." he suggested. "Popular guy..."

"Which one?" Alvin growled. Hiccup stared into his scowling face.

"You wanna know? Try following me home!" he invited the man. "And then you can persuade them that they really don't want me in their home and will throw me out? Guess what? My step-dad already figured that so not news. You really want me to freeze, don't you?"

"I told you I would make you sorry," Alvin growled, the pressure increasing. Hiccup grimaced.

"You want someone to see you doing this?" he asked, looking Alvin straight in the eye. The man lifted his hand...and then heard the approaching steps. He just had time to lower his hand as Astrid, Cami, Ruff and Heather swung round the corner on their way to Cheerleading practice. They quietened down as they saw the Principal and murmured greetings but Alvin just nodded and shoved Hiccup roughly forward.

"Get a move on, boy!" he growled. "Yer late fer detention...again..." Cami glanced at him.

"Gods, does he ever NOT get detention?" she scoffed.

"Must not want to go home!" Ruff sneered. Astrid started and couldn't look at Hiccup but Heather glared at the boy.

"Do us all a favour and quit!" she sneered. "Right, Ast?"

Hiccup had turned away before he heard the quiet murmur of "Whatever."

oOo

It really shouldn't have bothered him but somehow it did. He had known that she couldn't acknowledge his existence any differently but she had actually been...well, nice to him this morning and it was really hard to recall that at school, he was an outcast, with even his so-called friends now on his tail. Detention had been as fun as usual but he had put his head down and worked at his homework, finishing off the load of work Mildew had dumped on him before Alvin had called him to the front at the end of the detention. Reluctantly and very sulkily, he had stood before the man.

"Gods, yer looks like some sulky brat!" Alvin growled. Hiccup cocked an eyebrow.

"And?" he asked insolently. "No rule saying I gotta look like some perfect little boy for you...Al."

"Where are yer stayin', boy?" Alvin growled. Emerald green eyes flicked up and narrowed.

"Why? I mean, what's it to you?" The tone was sarcastic.

"I got a duty of care ter all me students," Alvin growled and Hiccup gave a bitter laugh.

"So maybe I should tell my Principal that my step-father is an abusive bastard, who beats me, starves me and threw me out onto the streets?" he asked, watching Alvin grow puce with anger. "How you gonna deal with that, Mr 'Duty of Care'?" The man's huge hand lashed out like a shot, impacting Hiccup's cheek. The boy staggered back, clutching the point of impact.

"I don't believe yer," Alvin growled. "And no one else will. Yer a screw-up. I'm respected in the community. Everyone will think yer lyin'. Even those cops thought yer needed a good hidin'. All I'm doin' is what they recommended ter sort yer out."

"I'll pass," Hiccup told him shortly, breathing hard as Alvin grabbed his hoodie.

"Where are yer stayin'?" Alvin snapped. Hiccup struggled.

"Get off me!"

"Tell me, yer little bastard!" he snarled, grabbing Hiccup's hair and wrenching his head back. "I can snap yer in two..."

"Gotta be desperate if you do this at the school," Hiccup said quickly. "Mom not happy? Missing her son?" Alvin threw him back so he staggered and almost fell.

"Yer know, she don't want ter see yer," he said crushingly. "And yer ain't welcome back. Since yer so 'appy where yer are, yer can stay there!" Hiccup looked up, eyes wide and dark with hurt. He still wouldn't believe it until he heard it from his mother, though Ingrid's and Alvin's words had his heart sinking. "Now get out!"

He left without another word, hands shoved in his pockets and chin buried in the green scarf. He wondered how it was that no one ever questioned how Alvin treated him, until he realised that Alvin must have chosen his team-and they all shared his philosophy. No one cared.

He heard voices as he reached the main door: the Cheerleaders were leaving after practice, the girls laughing and giggling. Astrid was among them, leading the discussion and it was obvious that all of them-especially the younger girls-were in awe of her. Admittedly, Astrid was smart, athletic, beautiful and incredibly good at everything she attempted...except Art, of course... and then he realised he heard his name. The girls were pointing and he shook his head as he heard shouts. The Team were joining the girls from training and there was a mixture of bravado, flirting and snarky comments suddenly floating around.

And then he heard Dagur.

"Fishbone!" He flinched but looked up, stopping walking a few yards away.

"Yeah, Dag?" he asked.

"What you doing hanging around here? You're not practicing anything!"

"Au contraire," Hiccup smirked. "I'm practicing detention. Apparently Al thinks I'm not good enough yet so I practice every damned day." Dagur loomed forward.

"Spending more time with your 'bestie' Al?" he sneered.

"For the last time, Dagur-I didn't tell Al that you and that mutton-head Snotlout..."

"Hey!"

"Whatever. That you two idiots decided to start that stupid brawl. I have no idea who did but I never did. I said it was my idea and he suspended me...but the next morning, I was ordered to go back to school because my suspension had been cancelled. And guess what: when I arrived, not only did I have to go to school but I ended up blamed for your two being suspended for longer. So go and look for someone else to blame!"

"You know no one cares-or believes you, right?" Snotlout growled.

"Whatever. It's the truth so it ain't gonna change. And I don't care what you think, Snotface!" Hiccup shot back. Astrid shuffled her feet at the back and paled. The atmosphere had noticeably turned menacing as soon as Dagur hailed Hiccup: it was clear that the question of who had betrayed the two boys to Mr Treacher was still a very sore point. She was in the verge of speaking up when Dagur's next words stopped her dead.

"If it isn't you, then whoever will get the same beating I gave you," he menaced. The girl flinched and stared at the red-haired boy, hearing the emotionless threat.

"Can't take it back," Hiccup snapped.

"Aw...I'd make it up to you...but don't see anyone standing forward to fess up, Fishbone! And as everyone here was there, don't think anyone will..." Dagur's eyes were icy. Hiccup abruptly turned away, muttering the word "Cowards" just loud enough to be heard.

Astrid grimaced. It was a valid accusation: Hoffersons were supposed to be fearless...but she was scared to own up because she feared that Dagur would do as he threatened...and she had seen how badly Hiccup had been hurt by his own supposed friends. What would they do to her...? Especially after what Dogsbreath had tried...and what Hiccup had implied as he got her out of the party... She glanced at her friends: would they think any worse of her if she never owned up? Hiccup had already taken the punishment for that action and what was to be gained by getting herself hurt as well? His friends hated him anyway and no one had to know. It wasn't as if he was popular anyway...

...and as she thought it, she felt ashamed. He was someone who had feelings, who had problems of his own and her actions-inadvertent though they were-had added to them. Homeless, rejected by his family, freezing, he had come to her as absolutely the last resort...and she had helped him. She heard a muffled cough and recalled he had been sick as well. She really should stand forward...but she was afraid. And not just of what Dagur would think...what would her friends think as well? And her parents...

No. It was unthinkable to own up. But she owed Hiccup better... Her eyes lingered on the retreating figure, feeling guilt and shame. It was easy to treat him as worthless but he was brave, kinder than she deserved and...thoughtful. He could have embarrassed her any time but he understood how things went... even though she owed him far more than she could ever own up. She touched Ruff's arm gently.

"Gotta go," she murmured. "I've got to help Mom this evening..." The girl nodded absently, her eyes trailing over Eret's buff shape as he was discussing a new play they were practising with Savage, Tuff and Fishlegs.

"Mmm? Oh yeah...Ast...do you think if I asked Eret out, he'd come?" she murmured. Astrid stared at her and at the tall, black-haired figure.

"If you don't, you'll never know," she murmured, even though she guessed Eret would run away at top speed. Ruff grinned and waved as Astrid trotted off down the road, heading in the direction of the vanished boy. She glanced back at the group, still bantering spiritedly as she rounded the corner and saw him in the distance. She put her head down and ran after him, panting hard.

"Hey! Wait up!" she called but he didn't slow down at all. She huffed and sped up until she pulled alongside. "You could've slowed down!" she panted.

"Why?' he asked her dully. "So you could start on me quicker..."

"I wouldn't..." she protested, then glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was watching. He caught the motion and lengthened his stride, pulling away. She had to trot to catch up.

"Why are you walking with me?" he asked her pointedly. "You can't been seen with me. You blank me in school. Aren't you worried someone will see you?"

"They're all drooling over the Football players," she said, breathing heavily. He coughed.

"And you aren't?"

"Yuk. No," she admitted. His green gaze flicked to her and he shrugged.

"Not even Snottykins?" he probed. She pulled a face.

"As if! Snot loves Snot, Snotty and Snotlout. He doesn't love anyone else!" she condemned the boy.

"Harsh. What d'you say about me, Astrid?"

"Sarcastic troublemaker, always in the centre of any mess and pretty disruptive," she trotted out.

"Wow. That hurts," he muttered. She sighed.

"Can't exactly say 'okay, he's sarcastic but he did save my ass a couple of times, loves his dog and is cleverer than he lets on.'"

"Why not?" The tone was sharp. She blushed.

"Because they'd ask how I knew," she admitted. "And you aren't exactly Mr Popular..." He managed a grim smile, coughing into his hand.

"Actually, the term is 'social suicide'," he rasped, coughing again. She caught the livid welt on his cheek and frowned. She grabbed his arm and swung him round to face her.

"What's that?" she demanded. He pulled away, a hand ghosting the scarlet mark and shaking his head.

"Nothing you or anyone can do anything about," he said. "Look..."

"Hiccup," she said gently. "I get you have a tough home life and school isn't fun either..."

"Understatement..."

"Whatever. But back home...with Mom and Dad...you don't have to pretend. You can be...you...and we will accept you..." He shook his head.

"I don't actually know who I am any more," he sighed. "Everything I care for really is gone. Dad's dead, Mom seems to have given up on me. My Godfather has washed his hands of me. I have no home...and Alvin will never let me graduate..."

She paused...then gently grasped his hand. He flinched and stared at her with wide emerald eyes. "Hiccup...you've got me," she offered. "I'll be your friend..."

"Just not at school," he said dryly. She gave a slight shrug.

"Not yet," she murmured and he gave a small smile.

"So you're gradually falling for all this...bad boy?" he asked, gesturing to his scrawny shape.

"Hell, no," she said too quickly, blushing vaguely. There was definitely something about his lopsided smile and the twinkle in his emerald eyes that made something tighten a little in her chest.

"Yeah, right," he teased her softly. "So it's Snotlout after all?"

"You swine," she shot back.

"Swine? Is that all you got? Swine? Odin, that's the lamest I've ever heard!"

"Yeah, well parents not big on cursing," she admitted.

"Not big on much," he admitted. "Cursing, parties, friends, fun..."

"They took you in..." she shot back and he stiffened. There was a long sigh.

"Your Mom is the reason why I'm here," he admitted as they rounded the corner and crossed another road. "Your Dad doesn't like me."

"He'll warm up to you...in a decade or so..."

"Promises, promises," he teased her.

"Hiccup?"

"Yeah?"

"Are we having a proper conversation?" He met her blue eyes and gave a small smile at her surprised and not dismayed expression.

"I believe we are, Milady," he smiled. her blonde brows dipped momentarily.

"What did you call me? Milady?"

"Um...yeah?"

"Okay..." she paused and smiled. "Fishbone."

"Hardly the same level cuteness but...okay," he sighed as the house came into sight. "Milady."